2018 Lagoon 50 vs 2019 Leopard 45 — Comparison
2018 Lagoon 50
2019 Leopard 45
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2018 Lagoon 50 | 2019 Leopard 45 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Lagoon | Leopard |
| Year | 2018 | 2019 |
| Type | Catamaran | Catamaran |
| Country | France | South Africa |
| Designer | VPLP / Nauta Design | Simonis Voogd |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.75 m (48.4 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 13.90 m (45.6 ft) | 13.00 m (42.7 ft) |
| Beam | 8.11 m (26.6 ft) | 7.60 m (24.9 ft) |
| Draft | 1.35 m (4.4 ft) | 1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 16,800 kg (37,038 lbs) | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) |
| Ballast | — | — |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 130.0 m² (1,399 ft²) | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Mini Keel | Mini Keel |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 2 HP | 2 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 720 L (190.2 gal) | 480 L (126.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 1060 L (280.0 gal) | 800 L (211.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 12 | 10 |
| Cabins | 5 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2018 Lagoon 50 and 2019 Leopard 45 represent two takes on catamaran-rigged sailing. The 2018 Lagoon 50 is a modern design by Lagoon from France, while the 2019 Leopard 45 is a modern offering from Leopard from South Africa. The 2018 Lagoon 50 was penned by VPLP / Nauta Design. The 2019 Leopard 45 was designed by Simonis Voogd.
In terms of size, the 2018 Lagoon 50 measures 14.75m (48.4ft) overall with a beam of 8.11m, compared to the 2019 Leopard 45 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 7.60m beam. The 2018 Lagoon 50 is 1.03m longer than the 2019 Leopard 45. The 2018 Lagoon 50 displaces approximately 29% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2018 Lagoon 50 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.13 and 130.0 m² of sail area. The 2019 Leopard 45, with an SA/D of 18.74 and 102.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2018 Lagoon 50 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2018 Lagoon 50 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 7.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 1.27). The 2019 Leopard 45 has a comfort ratio of 7.7 and a capsize screening value of 1.30. The ballast ratios are 0.0% for the 2018 Lagoon 50 and 0.0% for the 2019 Leopard 45, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2018 Lagoon 50 provides 12 berths in 5 cabins with 1060L of water capacity and 720L of fuel. The 2019 Leopard 45 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 800L water and 480L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2018 Lagoon 50 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2018 Lagoon 50 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2018 Lagoon 50 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.